How to survive being a breastfeeding mom.

Ah, motherhood… a rough and tough job, yet equally, if not more, gratifying and rewarding. Being a mom is hard work that is never ending, especially when you’re the food supply to your little love bug. It’s a stressful, tiring life, but a great one. In this post I’ll give a few tips to survive and thrive breastfeeding from personal experience!

Drink lots of water! I mean it, your supply will dwindle if you’re not properly hydrated. Your body can’t make liquid without having its own, right? Right. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses a day. It sounds like a lot, and it will be at first but it gets easier as your body gets use to it.

Get that beauty rest. Remember having a late night out before having that bundle of joy and having to be at work at the butt crack of dawn? Of course you do, we’ve all been there. And I bet you weren’t mentally there at all. Well the same goes for milk production. If your body isn’t well rested, it won’t work to make that liquid gold, mama! So nap when baby naps as much as you can, and hit the sack early.

Pump or hand express. If you notice your supply is getting low, pull out the breast pump. What has worked for me in the past, right after baby has nursed and it happily full, wait 15 minutes and pump for 5-10 minutes. Wait another 15-30 minutes and pump again for 5-10 minutes. Your breasts make milk through supply and demand. So even if while you’re pumping and nothing is coming out, you’re still stimulating the breast, and that’s the important part!

Prenatals prenatals prenatals! Yes, those awful smelling, tasting vitamims… no, you don’t have baby inside of you anymore, but taking those prenatals are still essential. Remember, whatever you ingest baby ingests. So make sure to take those vitamins and it’ll help make your precious milk just that much better!

Just breathe. Breathe in through your nose, now out through your mouth, and repeat. Stress can really slow down your milk production. And if you’re stressing about whether you’re making enough milk, is your baby latching correctly, or am I even holding my baby right?! Again, stop what you’re doing and BREATHE. You’re a mom, and your body knows what to do. While yes, it will be hard to start off, you will get the hang of it. Just remember to tell yourself that your baby is learning too! They will get that latch, your baby isn’t going to starve, and you’ll figure out how to hold that cute muffin. I promise. Just breathe, mama, you’re gonna do great.

I hope this helps with your breastfeeding journey, no matter how long or short it may be. Good luck mamas, I wish you well!